Shiranami Chihiro

Ryuuen was still loitering around Class B's camp. Although Kanzaki Ryuuji wanted to drive him away, Ichinose Honami's earlier attitude made him hesitate. Personal feelings shouldn't interfere with judgments about the class's interests. He figured Ichinose and Ryuuen must have reached some kind of agreement, meaning Ryuuen was very likely an ally now. So, Kanzaki Ryuuji didn't rashly try to drive Ryuuen off.

The other students in the class hadn't seen Ichinose reject Ryuuen, nor Kanzaki Ryuuji try to expel him, so they naturally didn't cause a fuss. Another reason was that Ryuuen was just observing; he hadn't done anything destructive. So, no one in Class B bothered him.

Ryuuen wasn't just observing Class B's camp; he was also looking for someone: Shiranami Chihiro.

Student ID S01T004744, a member of the art club. Her personality is somewhat timid, but her words and actions are calm and graceful, and she has a gentle demeanor. She is one of Ichinose Honami's close friends and is in love with Ichinose, who is also female. She had confessed to her before.

The interviewer's evaluation of her was: Her speech and conduct are calm and graceful, and her gentle demeanor is well-regarded. Her coordination is very good, and her grades are average, but her low physical ability and timid personality need improvement.

School evaluation: Academic ability C, Intelligence C, Judgment D, Physical ability D-, Teamwork C+.

Ordinary data. The reason Ryuuen remembered her information so clearly was that she was Class B's leader in this exam. In the original story, it was her. As for whether that had changed now, Ryuuen needed to confirm it.

Brown short hair paired with deep blue eyes, Shiranami Chihiro wasn't hard to find. After circling around, Ryuuen saw her carrying a handful of well-washed wild berries and walking towards Kobashi Yume (long light blue hair, one of Ichinose's close friends).

However, Ryuuen intercepted her.

Ryuuen stood in front of Shiranami Chihiro. When she took a step left, Ryuuen took a step right. When she took a step right, Ryuuen took a step left. When she stepped back, Ryuuen stepped forward.

The timid Shiranami now looked at Kobashi Yume. Kobashi Yume knew she was no match for Ryuuen, but she still blocked Shiranami's way: "Ryuuen-kun, using violence against other classes will get you disqualified from the exam."

"I don't intend to use violence," Ryuuen spread his hands. "I just want to have a chat with Shiranami Chihiro-san."

Ryuuen's words made the two girls in front of him even more wary. It wasn't strange for them to know Ryuuen, as he was quite famous throughout the school, but how did Ryuuen know Shiranami Chihiro, calling out her name so casually?

It must have been premeditated. The two girls had to be on guard against Ryuuen.

"Come talk with me, Shiranami-san." Ryuuen bypassed Kobashi Yume and directly asked Shiranami.

Seeing Shiranami retreat a few steps, Ryuuen added, "I just want to talk about Ichinose. You won't refuse me, will you?"

Hearing Ichinose's name, both girls hesitated. They were both good friends with Ichinose. They weren't sure what Ryuuen wanted, but refusing Ryuuen at this moment might have negative consequences for Ichinose. Both were a little worried.

Finally, Shiranami Chihiro nodded. It seemed her concern for Ichinose outweighed her fear of Ryuuen.

Ryuuen led Shiranami Chihiro behind a tree. Kobashi Yume also tried to follow but was driven away by Ryuuen. She could only watch the two from a distance, unsure of what they were discussing.

"Ryuuen-kun, what do you want to talk about?" Shiranami asked directly. It seemed she was eager to know about Ichinose.

"I wonder if you've noticed, Shiranami, that Ichinose is in a relationship." Ryuuen leaned against the tree, reaching out to snatch a washed red wild berry from Shiranami's hand. Ryuuen recognized this wild berry, Southern Schisandra, a Chinese medicinal herb. Its common name was "cold rice lump," and it was also known as "small blood vine," "wind sand vine," and "red wood incense." The ripe fruit could be eaten directly. Ryuuen wouldn't have eaten it if he wasn't sure it wasn't poisonous.

"Impossible! I've always been watching her. Honami doesn't have a boyfriend she likes at all!" Shiranami Chihiro's emotions were a bit agitated.

"Why is it impossible? Ichinose rejected your confession because she had someone she liked."

Shiranami Chihiro's face instantly turned red: "I didn't confess to Honami, Ryuuen-kun, don't spread rumors!"

Now it was Ryuuen's turn to ponder. Shiranami Chihiro hadn't confessed yet. The previous Sudo Incident also didn't involve Class B. Did this mean that Ichinose and Ayanokoji hadn't established a connection yet?

This question still needed to be verified, but the fact that Shiranami Chihiro hadn't confessed yet was good news for Ryuuen.

"Hahaha, I was just kidding, but Shiranami-san, your liking for Ichinose is no joke. This isn't just an ordinary liking." Ryuuen grabbed Shiranami Chihiro's hand. "If Ichinose knew you harbored such feelings for her, just think, Ichinose would definitely hate you, wouldn't she? Or maybe not. She's so gentle, she'd probably not say anything, but she'd gradually distance herself from you, wouldn't she, Shiranami-san?"

The wild berries in Shiranami Chihiro's hand spilled onto the ground. She tried to pull away from Ryuuen's grip, but she didn't have enough strength. Her mind wasn't on her hand at all: "No way, Honami won't hate me, she won't distance herself from me!"

The girl in front of him whimpered. The thought of being disliked by Ichinose made her completely break down.

At this moment, Ryuuen hugged Shiranami, whispering in her ear, "I have a way for you and Ichinose to be together forever."

Shiranami's tears stopped, and there was even some expectation in her eyes.

Although Ryuuen's offer was tempting, Shiranami wasn't stupid. At this point, she also understood what Ryuuen was trying to do: "I won't help you do anything that harms the class's interests. Give up."

"It seems your love for Ichinose is quite ordinary, easily shattered. Or perhaps you don't actually love her that much."

Ryuuen didn't use the word "like" but rather "love," a word that better conveyed the depth of emotion. Ryuuen believed that a sensitive girl like Shiranami wouldn't allow anyone to belittle her love for Ichinose. As long as his words angered her, when emotion dominated her mind, that was when Ryuuen would drag her down.

The timid Shiranami, hearing Ryuuen's words, was so angry that she tried to stomp on Ryuuen's foot, but he dodged.

"Between the class and Ichinose, you chose the class. The best outcome is nothing more than you graduating from Class A and then going your separate ways, never seeing each other again. Or you might witness Ichinose falling into someone else's arms, getting married and having children," Ryuuen said, enunciating each word, each one striking Shiranami's heart.

"If you truly love her that much, how can you rest assured entrusting her to someone else? What if she meets a scumbag? What if her boyfriend makes her suffer? What if she's unhappy after marriage?" Ryuuen's words were like the whisper of Satan, step by step leading the girl into the abyss.

Shiranami was about to cry again. This was the result Ryuuen wanted. He just needed to add the final piece of fuel.

"You only need to obey me. What you lose will only be a group of ordinary classmates. What you gain is a complete Ichinose, and Ichinose's love. You don't want to share Ichinose with others, do you? Obey me, and I can help you achieve it." Ryuuen held Shiranami tightly. The frequency of her heartbeat indicated that she was moved.

"What do you need me to do?"

Everyone is selfish. Sometimes, a person's descent into darkness can happen in an instant. The darkness in Shiranami Chihiro's heart was far greater than Ryuuen imagined. What made the timid Shiranami so brave was her distorted love for Ichinose.

Ryuuen was merely the guide.